Summoning of Mirwaiz by NIA to divert attention: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Mar 10 : Describing Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq as the 'religious and spiritual head of Kashmiri Muslims', Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that his (Mirwaiz) summoning by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is to divert attention from real issues.

The former Chief Minister, who was heading the coalition government with BJP before the saffron party pulled out from the government in June last year, said the NIA summons to Mirwaiz are emblematic of the Government of India (GoI)'s repeated assaults on their religious identity. 'Jammu and Kashmir is the proverbial sacrificial lamb, exploited to divert attention from real issues,' she alleged.

Taking to micro blogging site Twitter, Ms Mufti said 'Mirwaiz Farooq isn't any ordinary separatist leader. He is religious & spiritual head to Kash muslims. NIA summons to him are emblematic of GOIs repeated assaults on our religious identity. J&K is the proverbial sacrificial lamb exploited to divert attention from real issues.'

Mirwaiz Farooq isnât any ordinary separatist leader. He is religious & spiritual head to Kash muslims. NIA summons to him are emblematic of GOIs repeated assaults on our religious identity. J&K is the proverbial sacrificial lamb exploited to divert attention from real issues.

Mirwaiz, who is the Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC), has been asked to appear before the NIA at its headquarters in New Delhi on Monday.

The notice comes less than two weeks after the NIA on February 26 conducted searches at the premises of separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, in his alleged connection with a terror funding case.

'It appears that you are acquainted with the circumstances of the case noted below, which is now under investigation by the NIA, New Delhi, you are hereby required to report before the undersigned at National Investigation Agency, New Delhi on March 11, 2019 at 1030 hrs for the purpose of your examination relating to the case,' the notice read.

The state government recently withdrew security cover to Mirwaiz, following directions by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who reviewed the security and other facilities of all separatist leaders, after the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) fidayeen attack on CRPF convoy at Awantipora on Srinagar-Jammu national highway that left 44 jawans dead.UNI